3,724 research outputs found
Evolution and diversity of secretome genes in the apicomplexan parasite Theileria annulata
<b>BACKGROUND</b>: Little is known about how apicomplexan parasites have evolved to infect different host species and cell types. Theileria annulata and Theileria parva invade and transform bovine leukocytes but each species favours a different host cell lineage. Parasite-encoded proteins secreted from the intracellular macroschizont stage within the leukocyte represent a critical interface between host and pathogen systems. Genome sequencing has revealed that several Theileria-specific gene families encoding secreted proteins are positively selected at the inter-species level, indicating diversification between the species. We extend this analysis to the intra-species level, focusing on allelic diversity of two major secretome families. These families represent a well-characterised group of genes implicated in control of the host cell phenotype and a gene family of unknown function. To gain further insight into their evolution and function, this study investigates whether representative genes of these two families are diversifying or constrained within the T. annulata population. <b>RESULTS</b>: Strong evidence is provided that the sub-telomerically encoded SVSP family and the host-nucleus targeted TashAT family have evolved under contrasting pressures within natural T. annulata populations. SVSP genes were found to possess atypical codon usage and be evolving neutrally, with high levels of nucleotide substitutions and multiple indels. No evidence of geographical sub-structuring of allelic sequences was found. In contrast, TashAT family genes, implicated in control of host cell gene expression, are strongly conserved at the protein level and geographically sub-structured allelic sequences were identified among Tunisian and Turkish isolates. Although different copy numbers of DNA binding motifs were identified in alleles of TashAT proteins, motif periodicity was strongly maintained, implying conserved functional activity of these sites. <b>CONCLUSIONS</b>: This analysis provides evidence that two distinct secretome genes families have evolved under contrasting selective pressures. The data supports current hypotheses regarding the biological role of TashAT family proteins in the management of host cell phenotype that may have evolved to allow adaptation of T. annulata to a specific host cell lineage. We provide new evidence of extensive allelic diversity in representative members of the enigmatic SVSP gene family, which supports a putative role for the encoded products in subversion of the host immune response
Fluxoid formation: size effects and non-equilibrium universality
Simple causal arguments put forward by Kibble and Zurek suggest that the
scaling behaviour of condensed matter at continuous transitions is related to
the familiar universality classes of the systems at quasi-equilibrium. Although
proposed 25 years ago or more, it is only in the last few years that it has
been possible to devise experiments from which scaling exponents can be
determined and in which this scenario can be tested. In previous work, an
unusually high Kibble-Zurek scaling exponent was reported for spontaneous
fluxoid production in a single isolated superconducting Nb loop, albeit with
low density. Using analytic approximations backed up by Langevin simulations,
we argue that densities as small as these are too low to be attributable to
scaling, and are conditioned by the small size of the loop. We also reflect on
the physical differences between slow quenches and small rings, and derive some
criteria for these differences, noting that recent work on slow quenches does
not adequately explain the anomalous behaviour seen here.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, presentation given at CMMP 201
Defect formation in superconducting rings: external fields and finite-size effects
Consistent with the predictions of Kibble and Zurek, scaling behaviour has
been seen in the production of fluxoids during temperature quenches of
superconducting rings. However, deviations from the canonical behaviour arise
because of finite-size effects and stray external fields.
Technical developments, including laser heating and the use of long Josephson
tunnel junctions, have improved the quality of data that can be obtained. With
new experiments in mind we perform large-scale 3D simulations of quenches of
small, thin rings of various geometries with fully dynamical electromagnetic
fields, at nonzero externally applied magnetic flux. We find that the outcomes
are, in practice, indistinguishable from those of much simpler Gaussian
analytical approximations in which the rings are treated as one-dimensional
systems and the magnetic field fluctuation-free.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, presentation at QFS2012, to appear in JLT
Intervalo QT corrigido e dispersão do intervalo QT corrigido são válidos quando interpretados com outras mensurações de repolarização
Bridge Grafting
This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu
Metallic liquid hydrogen and likely Al2O3 metallic glass
Dynamic compression has been used to synthesize liquid metallic hydrogen at
140 GPa (1.4 million bar) and experimental data and theory predict Al2O3 might
be a metallic glass at ~300 GPa. The mechanism of metallization in both cases
is probably a Mott-like transition. The strength of sapphire causes shock
dissipation to be split differently in the strong solid and soft fluid. Once
the 4.5-eV H-H and Al-O bonds are broken at sufficiently high pressures in
liquid H2 and in sapphire (single-crystal Al2O3), electrons are delocalized,
which leads to formation of energy bands in fluid H and probably in amorphous
Al2O3. The high strength of sapphire causes shock dissipation to be absorbed
primarily in entropy up to ~400 GPa, which also causes the 300-K isotherm and
Hugoniot to be virtually coincident in this pressure range. Above ~400 GPa
shock dissipation must go primarily into temperature, which is observed
experimentally as a rapid increase in shock pressure above ~400 GPa. The
metallization of glassy Al2O3, if verified, is expected to be general in strong
oxide insulators. Implications for Super Earths are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 14th Liquid and Amorphous Metals Conference, Rome
201
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